Living With Pets: 4 Tips for a Stylish Home
Living with a pet does not mean that you have to forgo the latest design trends and hottest interior styles.
From sturdy pet-friendly flooring to stylish pet-proof upholstery, these four design tips can help you create a comfy living space for both you and your pet right at home.
Pet-Friendly Flooring
Some flooring materials stand up to pet messes more than others.
While you may love the plush feeling of soft carpet between your toes, getting those unavoidable pet stains out of a soft carpet may be impossible.
Durable flooring options, such as vinyl, is not only an affordable option, but it can be installed easily.
Plus, vinyl flooring options come in a variety of different styles that can seamlessly complement your home’s unique style.
Other flooring options like tile, or natural wood flooring can be wiped down easily.
Laminate flooring options also stand up to scratches, however, is less moisture-resistant than other flooring options.
Appropriate Upholstery
Just because you have pets does not mean that you have to sacrifice having comfortable furniture.
There are a number of fabrics and furniture materials that are durable, stylish and easy to clean, including leather and its more affordable (and cruelty-free) cousin, pleather, says HGTV.
Pleather has the same timeless appeal as its counterpart and is an ethical choice.
There is also ultra-suede, which is just as smooth as real suede and is machine washable.
When it comes to the throws and decorative pillows that you use around your home, be sure to opt for styles that are made with machine-washable fabrics.
This makes it easy to freshen up and keep your home smelling great.
Camouflage for Kitty
Pet ownership isn’t always pretty — especially when it comes to litter boxes.
While necessary for homes with indoor cats, litter boxes can pose a dilemma — where to put it.
Some areas of the house are just more well-suited than others.
Areas such as the mudroom, laundry room and bathroom are ideal for litter box placement.
However, don’t feel like you have to be restricted to these three options. Many litter box enclosures available today are chic and stylish.
They are often designed to blend in with your furniture and can even double-duty as furniture items around the home.
These litter box enclosures can conceal, plus they give your kitty a little-added privacy.
Pet-Proof Rugs
Rugs are a great option when it comes to adding pops of colour or fun patterns around your home. However, chewing pets and pet messes are unavoidable.
One mess and an expensive rug can be ruined. Before you leave the idea of stylish rugs behind know that there is another option: indoor/outdoor rugs.
The rugs are often made from recycled materials, they breathe easily, and they can be cleaned with the spray of a garden hose.
These rugs can also make a fun statement when used as a mat for your pet’s eating area.
Just because you have a pet does not mean that you have to sacrifice style around your home. Use these tips to create a chic, pet-friendly environment in your own living space.
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Great tips! Pet lovers should take a look at this blog 🙂
Great tips. Pets are members of the family so they, too, should feel comfortable at home. There are a lot of good options to match furniture and even home decor.
I am with you there – pets are everything aren’t they.
These are great tips. My little dog scratched up my pleather coffee table!
Oh no I am so sorry – pets can be naughty terrors at times, but you can’t help but love them.
These are all such wonderful tips! It can definitely be difficult to be stylish while living with lets. I appreciate all the help I can get with that!
Definitely, it can be hard with pets as well as they don’t exactly keep things clean lol.
What a great blog! Thanks for showing your wonderful tips. Such a huge help!
Thank you I am glad you enjoyed the tips and found them helpful.
Rugs have saved my house! Also, well placed animal doors have done amazingly. We were able to move the litter box from our bedroom to the laundry room when we installed a cat door.
That is awesome animal doors can be great and I’ve seen some really quite designs for them as well.
I swear by the litter box “houses”, where the cat goes inside to do its business. Not only that they don’t allow the litter to be spread all over the floor when the cat digs, but they are also great in keeping the smell in. Combined with silicon litter, you can’t even tell there’s a cat in the house 🙂
Oh gosh yeah – the last thing you want is litter everywhere! It can be such a nightmare.
You are so right. When you have pets living indoors it can be difficult to be stylish as well. You offer a great list of ways to accomplish this impossible feat.
Definitely – it’s totally possible though just needs some work and changes.
My parents have lots of dogs. There is always hair – EVERYWHERE. They make it work for them but personally, I couldn’t do it! I will be pet free forever! haha!
Haha Sal used to leave her fur everywhere would drive me mad – now I miss it strangely.
Great ideas, I have 3 cats and a downstairs large toilet my litter boxes are in there
That sounds like a good idea – seems you have things worked out for you.
This is the demonstration of how little it takes, with the right and careful precautions, to obtain excellent results!
Definitely, it takes a bit of thinking and changing but it can be done.
I try to stay stylish with my cats but you know, it is what it is. Our home will always looked lived in and that’s okay. But I like your ideas! 🙂
Nothing wrong with that at all – I couldn’t imagine living in a show home.
These are great tips. I have seen even dog crates that can match your furniture.
I’ve seen those – where they make them into tables / or storage above as well – so clever!